Exercise=physical activity, check. Here at Praying Fit, we've also found that exercise=spiritual activity. But the mental aspect of exercise allows for both the physical and spiritual freedom it can bring us. We first have to CHOOSE to put on our running shoes, or boxing gloves, or biker shorts, right? God doesn't FORCE us, goodness knows it doesn't come naturally...but we have to make up our MINDS to push our bodies, we have to make up our MINDS to ask God to join us in the journey. "Everyone is without excuse because Jesus always stands ready to fulfill His promise to set the captives free. He will walk us across the finish line of victory in any area we are WILLING to go all the way through it with Him." (Joyce Meyer, Battlefield of the Mind) Christ will walk us across the finish line of victory. He will walk us through a CrossFit session, a Zumba class, a 5k race...as long as we are WILLING to get there with him. He gives us a choice. He stands, patiently waiting, for us to give our minds over to His way of thinking, for us to use our minds to choose to follow Him. He will not take our hands by force (though we know He could), but he offers his, unconditionally, until we choose to take it. "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty." {Zechariah 4:6}

Our minds alone are not strong enough, our bodies alone are not strong enough...we have to give them both over to the Spirit of the Lord, in which anything is possible. When our minds are in line with His, our bodies, our hearts, our souls...will follow.

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." {Proverbs 23:7}

So, when you start your workout today, with your prayer, with your iPod, with whatever it is that gets you started, allow the Lord to break into your mind, allow Him to be YOUR choice. Thinketh in your heart that you will succeed in His presence...and you WILL! Whether "the power of positive thinking" seems corny to you or not, the power of God's thinking is unbeatable. I challenge you today, to go workout-but first, make up your MIND to complete today's goal, make up your MIND that you won't cross that finish line of victory alone, that your MIND will be enveloped by the Holy Spirit and your muscles, your heart, your lungs will follow...all the way across the finish line to VICTORY!And remember, I'm right there with you! I'm asking Jesus to jog with me and prepare me for something my body's never even dreamed of before. I am letting God run my runs before I expect to complete them. And when I picture myself crossing the finish line of a 13.1 mile race (eeek! it's coming up February 19!!!)...I don't see myself alone, I don't see that line itself as the victory...I will cross that line with my hand in Christ's and know that HE is the victory.Make your choice today! And let's pray fit!Love, faith & sweat,Holly

so great, as usual, holly! last night i found myself praying for the people inside every house i passed by as i jogged. it helped the time go by so much faster & instead of feeling exhausted at the end, i felt so joyful (don't get me wrong, i was tired, too :):) but a great tired!). thanks for all the inspiration!

Hi Holly, you're right on sister! We need to INVITE God's spirit to be present with us in our workouts... in everything! We can so easily "quench" His spirit without noticing it. BRITTANY, I bless homes as I jog past them too! That's awesome! God is so powerful, He will use even that! Blessings, Amy